PDF Hindu Manners; Customs and Ceremonies: The Classic First-Hand Account of India in the Early Nineteenth Century by Abbé J.A. Dubois in History

Review

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. classic in social observationBy P. NagyThis quirky; witty; wise and subtlety bigoted account of Indian ethos is an important record of how culture missionaries viewed Hindu society and customs. Useful; but needs to be read carefully.In the course of more than 30 years as a missionary among the people of India; Abbe Dubois found ample opportunity to observe and record Hindu practices. His first manuscript on Hindu religion and sociology; written in French; was completed in 1806. This comprehensive; annotated translation of Dubois's 1815 thorough revision of his work was completed by Henry K. Beauchamp in 1897 and revised in 1905. It offers a rare glimpse of a little known culture; and is a unique historical document of anthropological interest.The first of three parts begins with a finely delineated view of Indian society; including commentary on the origin; divisions; and "advantages" of the caste system; the mythical origin of the Brahmins; descriptions of gurus or Hindu priests; and an explanation of the ceremonies of the Brahmins and other castes. Part 11 describes the four states of Brahminical life. It features discussions of the rules of conduct and etiquette; external and internal defilements; marriages between Brahmins and other Hindus; fasting; religious tolerance; Hindu ornaments; Brahmin wives and rules of conduct for married women; conditions of widowhood and funeral ceremonies; and samples of Hindu fables; tales; and poetry.The final part considers; among other topics; the Hindu religion; including its feasts; temples; principal gods; and worship of animals and inanimate objects; the administration of civil and criminal justice; and the Hindu military system. Six appendices with supplementary information on distinctions of caste; rules of conduct; and other topics conclude this monumental work; a certain source of fascination for students. scholars; and anyone intrigued by Indian life and culture.Dover (2002) unabridged republication of the third English language edition; published by Clarendon Press; Oxford; 1905. Prefaces. Prefatory Note by Max Muller. Editor's Introduction. Index. 6 Appendices. 1 blackand white illustration. xxxiv+741pp. 533k x 8'1/2. Paperbound.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. The ghostwriter behind the AbbéBy A CustomerWhat we didn't know until Sylvia Murrs detective-like analysis of manuscripts: the late Abbé (1766-1848) had a ghostwriter - he owned an older manuscript of the Ex-Jesuit Coeurdoux (+ 1691-1779); a brilliant scholar of Indian customs and lifelong observer of his exotic environment. Dubois added to his model many sociological and ethnical observations - a real teamwork ...The book is of outstanding interest - both authors lived in all more than 90 years in a continent whom they tried to understand - not in vain.This book represents in a certain sense the key to Indian manners and customs the Indians themselves sometimes seem to have lost ...* In 2002 came out a German translation with commentary6 of 13 people found the following review helpful. ill-informed and bigotedBy Ramakanth MunipalliAbbe Dubois' book has received glowing praise from a wide circle of historians and indologists; some of whom were even from india. it is hard for me to understand this admiration when considering the severely bigoted stance adopted by the abbe in his hatred of brahmins in particular and his disregard for hindu customs in general.A great responsibility lies with persons who attempt to document a culture that they and their readership are unfamiliar with. Such a task is rarely served by the sensibilities of religious zealots. It is clear that the abbe's is not the only book that is marauded by personal opinion. The net is rife with digitally scanned books from the early 19th century dealing with hindu customs by other people from a missionary background that are equally and annoyingly un-scientific in presenting facts.Abbe Dubois' initial admission of this tendency does not help the reader to any degree; considering the persistent inaccuracies throughout the text concerning religious rites and their interpretations. the editor has made notes at various points in the text where he suspected the abbe to be in error or simply un-verifiable. however; these notes are far from thorough; and with the two centuries which separate the contemporary reader from the time of this work; it is difficult now to make a responsible critique. one thing atleast seems unmistakable: the abbe seems to have used second hand accounts from unreliable sources (or misinterpreted the information provided to him - there seem to be a few instances of this); used his personal bias and generally insufficient observation to a very large extent in writing this book.In essense; this work has very little value to the inquisitive reader studying hindu customs and rituals as of the early nineteenth century. it is dishonest; terribly prejudiced and ill-informed; thus ruining its grand scope and the abbe's investment of over two decades of his life allegedly camouflaged among the natives whom he so detests. i wish the world had the decency to hold him to his defects when the opportunity was available.Much has happened in the early nineteenth century in India; that the present day student of history needs to know. Sadly; neither the native accounts (that are scarce anyway and often very indirect;) nor books like abbe dubois' provide a reliable account. the book; no doubt; abounds in detailed descriptions of various aspects of hindu life. however; i am left with a nagging concern that i just do not know how much of what the abbe wrote is true.